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Bite-sized highlights from day 1 at the Olympic tennis

Serena Williams wants gold. And she showed it, with an emphatic 6-3, 6-1 win over Jelena Jankovic. Ever Serena, her response was “I actually think I played solid.”

The first winner

It was all smiles for Kim Clijsters, who became the first singles winner with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Roberta Vinci.

The scare

It was all going perfectly for Roger Federer as he brought up three match points against Alejandro Falla leading by a set and 5-3. But inexplicabaly, the Colombian suddenly fought back, won the second set, and sent Federer into a third. The great Swiss prevailed, but it was not easy.

Best of British

Elena Baltacha revealed that seeing herself in her Olympics kit urged her on as she won her debut Olympic match 6-3, 6-3 over Agnes Szavay. Baltacha later revealed she is due to have shin surgery that could potentially end her career.

There was not such good news for Anne Keothavong, who pushed Caroline Wozniacki very hard on Centre, finally surrendering in three sets. Quite a way to rise to the big occasion.

The upsets

Afforded the honour of re-opening Centre Court just three weeks after the finish of The Championships, Tomas Berdych failed to live up to it spectacularly, defeated in straight sets by Steve Darcis. He looked a far cry from the man who played in the Wimbledon final two years ago.

Another surprise was Tamira Paszek, Eastbourne champion, going down in two sets to Alize Cornet. Not one I would have picked. Similarly, Urszula Radwanska had little trouble beating Mona Barthel 6-4. 6-3.

Fernando Verdasco was narrowly thumped 6-4, 7-6 by Denis Istomin, the 14th seed continuing his lack of big wins, while Li Na will have disappointed a nation with her 2-6, 6-3, 3-6 defeat to Daniela Hantuchova.

Toys and prams

So much has been said about Ryan Harrison that he was surely expected to beat clay courter Santiago Giraldo and continue to anoint himself as American’s golden boy-to-be. But instead, throwing several toys out of the pram as he did so, Harrison played well below his best, and was beaten by Giraldo in straight sets.

The Bryan brothers had a three-set toughie against Brazil’s Bellucci and Sa, the Murray brothers were ousted by Melzer and Peya, but the upset of the day was the loss of Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski, the fourth seeds, to David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez.

There was a very big almost upset, too, for Laura Robson and Heather Watson, who lead Sabine Lisicki and Angelique Kerber by a set and a break before the fifth seeds came steam-rollering back as the light faded.

Quote of the day

“I mean, I love Michelle. I gave her a thumbs up just to acknowledge that I knew she was here.”

Serena Williams on being asked if Michelle Obama could sit in her family box

Most famous face

Michelle Obama. The First Lady eschewed the Olympic Family box, on hiatus from being the Royal Box, in favour of sitting in Serena’s player box. Obama is no stranger to a tennis court, and it was great to see her cheering Serena on. As one tweeter pointed out, it was quite an upgrade from the likes of Kim Kardashian.

Golf star Rory McIlroy was later on Centre Court to watch Caroline Wozniacki.

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Live Blog

20:08It brings me no pleasure but it's time to bring the curtain down for another year. Seemed somehow appropriate to leave the last word to Roger Federer. Thanks a billion for reading. What a fortnight, what a final, fast forward to 2015 please...

20:03"I already have seven. It's not like I need another one. But it would have been awfully nice to have it. I think that's what the feeling was of the people, and I felt that... I know they love tennis. They love tennis after we're all gone."